Display apparatus, display method, program, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus for displaying accumulated data items includes obtaining means for obtaining a plurality of data items accumulated, classifying means for classifying the plurality of data items into N groups on the basis of predetermined criteria, display-control means for controlling an indication on a display unit such that the plurality of data are displayed in N display regions corresponding to the N groups, and accepting means for accepting a specification of one display region from among the N display regions. When the accepting means accepts a specification of one display region from among the N display regions, the classifying means classifies a plurality of data items displayed in the specified display region into a further N groups, and the display-control means controls an indication on the display unit such that the plurality of data items are displayed in the N display regions corresponding to the N groups.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2007-153960 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Jun.11, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display apparatus, a display method,a program, and a recording medium, and, in particular, to a displayapparatus, a display method, a program, and a recording medium withwhich desired data can be easily obtained.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, with the wide use of digital still cameras or the like, forexample, it has been easy to save shot images as data items.Accordingly, users save a large number of shot images in personalcomputers or the like, and, for example, the users often enjoydisplaying the images on displays.

Additionally, recently, the wide use of search engines has beenremarkable. For example, a search engine has been developed, whichsearches image data items or the like using a natural language. Anothersearch engine has also been developed, which searches data items ofimages that are similar to an input image (for example, see UnitedStates Patent Application Publication No. 20050166149).

Such search engines, for example, search data items of images that aremost similar to an input image from among images accumulated in advanceto obtain searched image data items, and display the searched image dataitems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, recently, storage capacities of computers or the like have beenrapidly increased, resulting in the enormous amounts of accumulated dataitems.

For this reason, for example, it has been difficult for a user to searcha desired image in accumulated image data items. In order to search adesired image from among a large number of images, for example, it ispossible to search a desired data item with reference to metadata itemsshowing the shooting dates of images or the like. However, in mostcases, the user does not accurately remember the shooting date of thedesired image. It is necessary for the user to have a task of searchingthe desired image while checking a number of images.

Additionally, also in a case where the desired image is to be searchedby a search engine or the like, the probability that the desired imageis exactly obtained as a search result in one search is low. In normalcases, a plurality of search results are displayed. It is difficult tofind the desired image from among a large number of images displayed asthe search results.

Furthermore, when a large number of images are displayed as the searchresults, it is possible to obtain the desired image, for example, byperforming a search after further narrowing down the search results. Insuch a case, it is necessary for the user who performs the search, forexample, to carefully select a keyword, an image, or the like that theuser inputs into the search engine. Accordingly, a lot of time isnecessary to obtain the desired image.

In view of the above-described circumstances, it is desirable to easilyobtain desired data.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a display apparatus for displaying accumulated data items on adisplay unit. The display apparatus includes the followings: obtainingmeans for obtaining a plurality of data items that are accumulated;classifying means for classifying the plurality of data items that areobtained by the obtaining means into N groups on the basis ofpredetermined criteria; display-control means for controlling anindication on the display unit such that the plurality of data itemsthat are classified by the classifying means are displayed in N displayregions corresponding to the N groups; and accepting means for acceptinga specification of one display region from among the N display regions.When the accepting means accepts a specification of one display regionfrom among the N display regions, the classifying means classifies aplurality of data items displayed in the specified display region into afurther N groups, and the display-control means controls an indicationon the display unit such that the plurality of data items that arefurther classified by the classifying means are newly displayed in the Ndisplay regions corresponding to the N groups.

In each of the N display regions, a predetermined number of data itemsfrom among data items that are classified into a group corresponding tothe display region may be displayed.

The classifying means may generate information showing a distribution ofthe plurality of data items on the basis of additional data items thatare attached in advance to the plurality of data items obtained by theobtaining means, and calculate distances between the plurality of dataitems in the distribution to classify the plurality of data items intothe N groups.

The classifying means may generate information showing a distribution ofthe plurality of data items on the basis of evaluation values on theplurality of data items, the evaluation values being calculated byanother apparatus, and calculate distances between the plurality of dataitems in the distribution to classify the plurality of data items intothe N groups.

On a screen of the display unit on which the indication is controlled bythe display-control means, each of the N display regions may have apredetermined size and be provided at a predetermined position.

On a screen on which the indication is controlled by the display-controlmeans, the N display regions may be set in correspondence with theplurality of data items.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a display method for a display apparatus that displaysaccumulated data items on a display unit. The display method includesthe followings: obtaining a plurality of data items that areaccumulated; classifying the plurality of data items that are obtainedinto N groups on the basis of predetermined criteria; controlling anindication on the display unit such that the plurality of data itemsthat are classified are displayed in N display regions corresponding tothe N groups; classifying, in a case in which a specification of onedisplay region from among the N display regions is accepted, a pluralityof data items displayed in the specified display region into a further Ngroups; and controlling an indication on the display unit such that theplurality of data items that are further classified are newly displayedin the N display regions corresponding to the N groups.

According to a third embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a program for causing a computer to perform a process ofdisplaying accumulated data items on a display unit. The program causesthe computer to function as a display apparatus for displayingaccumulated data items on the display unit. The display apparatusincludes obtaining means for obtaining a plurality of data items thatare accumulated, classifying means for classifying the plurality of dataitems that are obtained by the obtaining means into N groups on thebasis of predetermined criteria, display-control means for controllingan indication on the display unit such that the plurality of data itemsthat are classified by the classifying means are displayed in N displayregions corresponding to the N groups, and accepting means for acceptinga specification of one display region from among the N display regions.The program causes the computer to function as follows: when theaccepting means accepts a specification of one display region from amongthe N display regions, the classifying means classifies a plurality ofdata items displayed in the specified display region into a further Ngroups, and the display-control means controls an indication on thedisplay unit such that the plurality of data items that are furtherclassified by the classifying means are newly displayed in the N displayregions corresponding to the N groups.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of data itemsthat are accumulated are obtained. The plurality of data items that areobtained are classified into N groups on the basis of predeterminedcriteria. An indication on the display unit is controlled such that theplurality of data items that are classified are displayed in N displayregions corresponding to the N groups. When a specification of onedisplay region from among the N display regions is accepted, a pluralityof data items displayed in the specified display region are classifiedinto a further N groups, and an indication on the display unit iscontrolled such that the plurality of data items that are furtherclassified are newly displayed in the N display regions corresponding tothe N groups.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, desired data canbe easily obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a configuration of a searchsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a functional configuration ofa controller shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a graph of an example of distribution information;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an example of a display screen on whichsearch results are displayed;

FIG. 5 is a graph of an example of distribution information that isgenerated using a one extracted portion of the distribution informationshown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart describing an example of asearch-result-displaying process;

FIG. 7 is a graph of an example of two-dimensional distributioninformation;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of another example of the display screen onwhich search results are displayed;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged illustration of a portion of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an example of a configuration of a displaysystem according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an example of a configuration of apersonal computer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before describing embodiments of the present invention, examples ofcorrespondence between the features of the present invention andembodiments described in the specification and shown in the drawingswill be described below. This description is intended to assure thatembodiments supporting the present invention are described in thisspecification. Thus, even if a certain embodiment, which is described inthe specification and shown in the drawings, is not described herein ascorresponding to certain features of the present invention, that doesnot necessarily mean that the embodiment does not correspond to thosefeatures. Conversely, even if an embodiment is described herein ascorresponding to certain features, that does not necessarily mean thatthe embodiment does not correspond to other features.

A display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present inventionis a display apparatus for displaying accumulated data items on adisplay unit (for example, a display 34 shown in FIG. 10). The displayapparatus includes the followings: obtaining means (for example, asearch-result-obtaining section 101 shown in FIG. 2) for obtaining aplurality of data items that are accumulated; classifying means (forexample, a search-result-analyzer section 102 and aclassification-data-generating section 103 shown in FIG. 2) forclassifying the plurality of data items that are obtained by theobtaining means into N groups on the basis of predetermined criteria;display-control means (for example, a display-data-generating section104 shown in FIG. 2) for controlling an indication on the display unitsuch that the plurality of data items that are classified by theclassifying means are displayed in N display regions corresponding tothe N groups; and accepting means (for example, anoperation-input-accepting section 105 shown in FIG. 2) for accepting aspecification of one display region from among the N display regions.When the accepting means accepts a specification of one display regionfrom among the N display regions, the classifying means classifies aplurality of data items displayed in the specified display region into afurther N groups, and the display-control means controls an indicationon the display unit such that the plurality of data items that arefurther classified by the classifying means are newly displayed in the Ndisplay regions corresponding to the N groups.

On a screen of the display unit on which the indication is controlled bythe display-control means, each of the N display regions (for example,regions 221 to 224 shown in FIG. 4) can have a predetermined size andcan be provided at a predetermined position.

On a screen on which the indication is controlled by the display-controlmeans, each of the N display regions can be in correspondence with theplurality of data items (for example, set as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9).

A display method according to an embodiment of the present invention isa display method for a display apparatus that displays accumulated dataitems on a display unit (for example, the display 34 shown in FIG. 10).The display method includes the followings: obtaining (for example, aprocess of step S101 shown in FIG. 6) a plurality of data items that areaccumulated; classifying (for example, processes of steps S103 to S107shown in FIG. 6) the plurality of data items that are obtained into Ngroups on the basis of predetermined criteria; controlling (for example,a process of step S108 shown in FIG. 6) an indication on the displayunit such that the plurality of data items that are classified aredisplayed in N display regions corresponding to the N groups;classifying (for example, a process of step S110 and the processes ofsteps S103 to S107 shown in FIG. 6), in a case in which a specificationof one display region from among the N display regions is accepted, aplurality of data items' displayed in the specified display region intoa further N groups; and controlling an indication on the display unitsuch that the plurality of data items that are further classified arenewly displayed in the N display regions corresponding to the N groups.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a configuration of a searchsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A search system 10 includes a database 31, a search processor 32, acontroller 33, and the display 34.

In the database 31, a plurality of data items, such as image data items,are accumulated. The database 31 may be configured using, for example, ahard disk drive (HDD) or the like. The database 31 may also beconfigured using a drive in which a predetermined recording medium, suchas a digital versatile disc (DVD) or a semiconductor memory card, ismounted.

Not only may the database 31 be configured as one unit, but also thedatabase 31 may include, for example, a plurality of servers that areconnected to the Internet.

The search processor 32 searches data items that match a predeterminedcondition from among the data items accumulated in the database 31, andoutputs the matching data items as search results. The search processor32 is configured, for example, as a so-called search engine. The searchprocessor 32 searches data items corresponding to a keyword, image data,or the like that is input via the controller 33 from among the dataitems accumulated in the database 31.

The search processor 32, for example, calculates feature quantities ofimage data items accumulated in the database 31. The search processor 32compares the calculated feature quantities with a keyword that has beeninput or a feature quantity of an image data item that has been input onthe basis of predetermined criteria to calculate an evaluation value foreach of the image data items. For example, image data items havingevaluation values higher than a predetermined threshold are output asresults of the calculation.

Alternatively, the search processor 32, for example, checks informationitems that are attached to the image data items accumulated in thedatabase 31, and extracts and outputs image data items that match aninput condition, such as a shooting date on which an image was shot.

The controller 33 is a function block that provides overall control ofthe search system 10. For example, the controller 33 includes anoperation unit having a keyboard, a mouse, and so forth, and accepts anoperation input provided by a user.

For example, when an instruction for the execution of a search isprovided by a user operation, the controller 33 supplies a keyword, animage data item, or the like, which is input by the user, to the searchprocessor 32, and controls the search processor 32 so that the searchprocessor 32 can perform the search. Additionally, for example, whensearch results are output from the search processor 32, the controller33 generates display data that is used to display the search results onthe display 34. For example, when a user operation is performed on thebasis of a screen displayed on the display 34, the controller 33 furthergenerates display data that is used to change a manner in which thesearch results are displayed to display another screen on the display34.

The display 34 is a display configured, for example, using a liquidcrystal display (LCD) or the like. The display 34 displays a screen,which is provided for the user, on the basis of display data that issupplied from the controller 33.

In the search system 10, a portion of or all of the devices from thedatabase 31 to the display 34 may be configured as one device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a functional configuration ofthe controller 33 shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the search-result-obtaining section 101 controlsthe search processor 32 so that the search processor 32 can searchthrough the data items accumulated in the database 31 on the basis ofinformation items supplied from the operation-input-accepting section105. As a result, the search-result-obtaining section 101 obtains searchresults.

The search-result-analyzer section 102 analyzes information itemsconcerning the search results supplied from the search-result-obtainingsection 101.

For example, when the search processor 32 searches image data items, ametadata-extracting unit 121 of the search-result-analyzer section 102extracts information items (for example, dates and times when imageswere shot) attached to image data items that have been supplied from thesearch-result-obtaining section 101 as search results, or informationitems showing examination values, which have been calculated by thesearch processor 32, as metadata items. Even when a plurality ofinformation items are attached to one image, the plurality ofinformation items are compiled into one metadata item, and the onemetadata item is extracted in correspondence with the one image.

A distribution-generating unit 122 of the search-result-analyzer section102, for example, digitizes and normalizes the metadata items, whichhave been extracted by the metadata-extracting unit 121, to obtainnormalized numerical values, and generates a distribution of thenormalized numerical values. Accordingly, for example, each of themetadata items that are digitized is plotted as a corresponding one ofthe numerical values to generate distribution information.

The classification-data-generating section 103 classifies the searchresults on the basis of the distribution information, which has beengenerated by the search-result-analyzer section 102. Theclassification-data-generating section 103, for example, calculatesdistances between adjacent metadata items in the distributioninformation, which has been generated by the search-result-analyzersection 102. When the distances between adjacent metadata items areshort, the adjacent metadata items are classified into the same group.When the distances between adjacent metadata items are long, theadjacent metadata items are classified into different groups. Asdescribed above, the classification-data-generating section 103classifies the metadata items, for example, into four groups. Image dataitems corresponding to the metadata items classified into classificationgroups are output to the display-data-generating section 104.

The image data items that have been classified into the four groups aresupplied from the classification-data-generating section 103 to thedisplay-data-generating section 104. The display-data-generating section104 generates display data used to display the image data items suchthat the image data items can be displayed in predetermined regions onthe screen of the display 34 on a group-by-group basis.

For example, suppose that information items showing the shooting datesof images are attached as metadata items to data items of the imagesthat have been searched by the search processor 32. In such a case, themetadata-extracting unit 121 of the search-result-analyzer section 102extracts information items, for example, one of which is “2007/4/1(showing that an image was shot on Apr. 1, 2007 A.D.)”, as the metadataitems. Then, the distribution-generating unit 122 generates distributioninformation shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a graph of an example of distribution information, and, inFIG. 3, the shooting dates of the images are plotted on the horizontalaxis representing shooting dates. Referring to FIG. 3, vertical barsshown in FIG. 3 represent the metadata items of the images that havebeen output as the search results. The metadata items are informationitems showing the shooting dates of the images. For simplicity ofdescription, only one image was shot on each date.

The classification-data-generating section 103 calculates distancesbetween adjacent metadata items (in this case, adjacent vertical barsshown in FIG. 3) in the distribution information shown in FIG. 3. Whenthe search results are classified into four groups, theclassification-data-generating section 103 extracts three (=4−1) longerdistances from among the distances between adjacent metadata items. Inthe example shown in FIG. 3, distances d1, d2, and d3 are extracted indecreasing order of distance.

Then, the classification-data-generating section 103 classifies adjacentmetadata items having the distance d1 therebetween into differentgroups. The classification-data-generating section 103 classifiesadjacent metadata items having the distance d2 therebetween into otherdifferent groups, and classifies adjacent metadata items having thedistance d3 therebetween into a further other different groups. As aresult, the metadata items (in this case, the shooting dates) areclassified into four groups 151 to 154.

The display-data-generating section 104 generates display data used todisplay the images that were shot on the shooting dates, which have beenclassified into the four groups 151 to 154, in correspondingpredetermined regions on the screen of the display 34, for example, asshown in FIG. 4.

In an example shown in FIG. 4, on a screen 211 of the display 34, thefour regions 221 to 224 are provided. The region 221 is a region inwhich images that were shot on shooting dates (from Apr. 2, 2007 A.D. toApr. 18, 2007 A.D.) which have been classified into the group 151 shownin FIG. 3 are displayed. Images 231 to 234 are four images from amongten images that were shot on the shooting dates which have beenclassified into the group 151.

Similarly, the region 222 is a region in which images that were shot onshooting dates which have been classified into the group 152 aredisplayed. Images 241 to 244 are four images from among images that wereshot on the shooting dates which have been classified into the group152. The region 223 is a region in which images that were shot onshooting dates which have been classified into the group 153 aredisplayed. Images 251 to 254 are four images from among images that wereshot on the shooting dates which have been classified into the group153. The region 224 is a region in which images that were shot onshooting dates which have been classified into the group 154 aredisplayed. Images 261 to 264 are four images from among images that wereshot on the shooting dates which have been classified into the group154.

In the four regions 221 to 224, for example, the displayed images can bescrolled in the vertical direction that is indicated by an arrow 271 inFIG. 4. For example, the user controls the operation unit of thecontroller 33, and, as a result, operation-input information is suppliedfrom the operation-input-accepting section 105. On the basis of theoperation-input information, images displayed in any of the regions 221to 224 on the screen 211 are changed sequentially to different images.For example, when the user scrolls the images displayed in the region224 in the upward direction of FIG. 4, the image 261 disappears from theregion 224, and an image that is to be displayed after the image 264 isnewly displayed in the region 224. When the user further scrolls theimages, the image 262 disappears from the region 224, and an image thatis to be displayed after the image 262 is newly displayed in the region224. The images are displayed in the region 224 in such a manner.

A region that the user scrolls, for example, can be selected by moving aframe 281, which is displayed on the screen 211 as a graphical userinterface (GUI), such that the frame 281 is overlaid on a desiredregion.

In this manner, even when a large number of images, which are obtainedas search results, are displayed and a desired image (a target image) isnot displayed on the screen 211, the user can intuitively know a regionin which the target image is displayed by using the images displayed inthe regions 221 to 224. The user can find the target image, for example,by scrolling the images in the regions.

However, for example, in a case in which there are a large number ofsearch results, even when images that have been obtained as the searchresults are classified and displayed into the regions 221 to 224, it isdifficult to find the target image for some cases.

For this reason, in this embodiment of the present invention, the imagesdisplayed in any of the regions 221 to 224 can be classified into afurther four groups, and be displayed in the regions 221 and 224.

For example, in the region 224 shown in FIG. 4, twelve images that wereshot on the shooting dates which have been classified into the group 154shown in FIG. 3 are sequentially displayed by scrolling. When apredetermined operation is performed in a state in which the frame 281is overlaid on the region 244, the images that were shot on the shootingdates classified into the group 154 are classified into a further fourgroups, and newly displayed in the regions 221 to 224 on the screen 211.

FIG. 5 is a graph in which the portion of the group 154 shown in FIG. 3is enlarged. In FIG. 5, as in the case of FIG. 3, the shooting dates ofimages are plotted on the horizontal axis representing shooting dates toshow distribution information. Vertical bars shown in FIG. 5 representthe shooting dates of images that have been output as search results.

For example, the user performs a predetermined operation in a state inwhich the frame 281 is overlaid on the region 224 on the screen 211shown in FIG. 4. In this case, the operation-input-accepting section 105supplies information corresponding to an instruction for furthergenerating distribution information concerning the metadata items thathave been classified into the group 154 to the search-result-analyzersection 102. The search-result-analyzer section 102 suppliesdistribution information shown in FIG. 5 to theclassification-data-generating section 103.

In such a case, the classification-data-generating section 103calculates distances between adjacent metadata items (in this case,vertical bars shown in FIG. 5) in the distribution information shown inFIG. 5. The classification-data-generating section 103 extracts three(=4−1) longer distances from among the distances between adjacentmetadata items. As shown in FIG. 5, distances d11, d12, and d13 areextracted in decreasing order of distance.

Then, the classification-data-generating section 103 classifies adjacentmetadata items having the distance d11 therebetween into differentgroups. The classification-data-generating section 103 classifiesadjacent metadata items having the distance d12 therebetween into otherdifferent groups, and classifies adjacent metadata items having thedistance d13 therebetween into a further other different groups. As aresult, the metadata items of the group 154 (in this case, the shootingdates) is further classified into four groups 171 to 174.

The display-data-generating section 104 generates display data used todisplay images that were shot on the shooting dates classified into thefour groups 171 to 174 respectively in the regions 221 to 224 on thescreen 211 of the display 34. As a result, in this case, in the region221, images that were shot on shooting dates (from Jun. 10, 2007 A.D. toJun. 12, 2007 A.D.) which have been classified into the group 171 shownin FIG. 5 are displayed. In the region 222, images that were shot onshooting dates (from Jun. 16, 2007 A.D. to Jun. 18, 2007 A.D.) whichhave been classified into the group 172 shown in FIG. 5 are displayed.In the region 223, images that were shot on shooting dates (from Jun.21, 2007 A.D. to Jun. 23, 2007 A.D.) which have been classified into thegroup 173 shown in FIG. 5 are displayed. In the region 224, images thatwere shot on shooting dates (from Jun. 26, 2007 A.D. to Jun. 29, 2007A.D.) which have been classified into the group 174 shown in FIG. 5 aredisplayed.

In this manner, even when a large number of images are obtained assearch results, the user can easily and quickly find a target image.

Next, a search-result-displaying process performed by the search system10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 6. Thesearch-result-displaying process is performed, for example, when theuser controls the operation unit of the controller 33 or the like toprovide an instruction for searching data items. In this case, in thedatabase 31, for example, image data items that were shot by a digitalstill camera or the like are accumulated. An example will be described,in which the user inputs shooting dates (for example, from “2007/4/1”,to “2007/6/30”) included in a predetermined period and provides aninstruction for searching images.

In step S101, the search-result-obtaining section 101 obtains searchresults of a search process performed by the search processor 32. Inthis example, images that were shot in the period from Apr. 1, 2007 A.D.to Jun. 30, 2007 A.D. are obtained as the search results from among theimage data items accumulated in the database 31.

In step S102, the metadata-extracting unit 121 of thesearch-result-analyzer section 102 extracts metadata items correspondingto the search results, which have been obtained in the process of stepS101. In this example, information items showing the shooting dates ofimages are extracted as the metadata items.

In step S103, the distribution-generating unit 122 of thesearch-result-analyzer section 102 generates distribution informationconcerning the metadata items. In this example, for example,distribution information shown in FIG. 3 is generated.

In step S104, the classification-data-generating section 103 calculatesdistances between adjacent metadata items in the distributioninformation, which has been generated in the process of step S103, toobtain calculated lengths. In step S105, (N−1) distances are extractedfrom among the calculated distances in decreasing order of distance. Nis the number of regions (for example, the regions 221 to 224 shown inFIG. 4) on the screen, which are displayed by the display 34. Forexample, the equation N=4 can be obtained.

In step S106, the classification-data-generating section 103 determineswhether or not (N−1) distances are extracted from among the calculateddistances in decreasing order of distance. When it is determined that(N−1) distances are extracted, the process proceeds to step S107.

In step S107, the classification-data-generating section 103 classifiesthe metadata items into N groups. In this example, the metadata itemsare classified into, for example, the groups 151 to 154 shown in FIG. 3.

In step S108, the display-data-generating section 104 generates displaydata used to display the search results (in this case, the image dataitems) corresponding to the metadata items (in this case, the shootingdates), which have been classified into the groups 151 to 154 shown inFIG. 3, in corresponding regions on the screen of the display 34. Inthis step, for example, as described above with reference to FIG. 4, inthe region 221, images that were shot on shooting dates which have beenclassified into the group 151 shown in FIG. 3 are displayed, . . . ,and, in the region 224 images that were shot on shooting dates whichhave been classified into the group 154 are displayed.

In step S109, the search-result-analyzer section 102 determines whetheror not a region having data items that are to be re-classified isspecified. For example, the user performs a predetermined operation in astate in which the frame 281 is overlaid on a predetermined region (forexample, the region 224) on the screen 211 shown in FIG. 4. In thiscase, in step S109, it is determined that a region having data itemsthat are to be re-classified is specified. The process proceeds to stepS110.

In step S110, the metadata-extracting unit 121 of thesearch-result-analyzer section 102 extracts metadata items that havebeen classified into a group corresponding to the specified region. Theprocess returns to step S103.

In step S103, the distribution-generating unit 122 of thesearch-result-analyzer section 102 generates distribution informationconcerning the metadata items, which have been extracted in the processof step S110. In this step, for example, distribution information shownin FIG. 5 is generated.

Then, the processes of steps S104 to S107 are performed by theclassification-data-generating section 103. In the process of step S108,new display data is generated. In this example, in the process of stepS108, in the region 221, images that were shot on shooting dates whichhave been classified into the group 171 shown in FIG. 5 are displayed, .. . , and, in the region 224, images that were shot on shooting dateswhich have been classified into the group 174 are displayed. In thismanner, the display data is generated.

As described above, in step S109, every time it is determined that aregion having data items that are to be re-classified is specified, theprocess of step S110 and the process of steps S103 to S108 arerepeatedly performed.

In contrast, in step S106, when it is determined that (N−1) distancesare not extracted, the process proceeds to step S111. For example, whenthe number of search results supplied from the search processor 32 isless than N, or when the number of images to be displayed inpredetermined regions is less than N as a result of the repetition ofperformance of the process of step S110 and the process of steps S103 toS108, it may be impossible to extract (N−1) distances. Additionally, thenumber of images to be displayed as the search results is sufficientlysmall.

In step S111, the display-data-generating section 104 generates displaydata used to display images obtained as the search results withoutclassifying. In this step, for example, display data is generated suchthat the images obtained as the search results are displayed on thescreen of the display 34 without providing the regions 221 to 224.

After the process of step S111 is performed, or when it is determinedthat no region having data items that are to be re-classified isspecified in step S109, the search-result-displaying process isfinished.

In this manner, the search results are displayed.

An example has been described above, in which one-dimensionaldistribution information, such as the distribution information shown inFIG. 3, is generated by the distribution-generating unit 122 of thesearch-result-analyzer section 102. However, for example, when aplurality of additional information items that are attached to dataitems obtained as search results are extracted as metadata items by themetadata-extracting unit 121 of the search-result-analyzer section 102,two-or-more-dimensional distribution information is generated as thedistribution information generated by the distribution-generating unit122.

For example, when information items concerning shooting dates andinformation items concerning shooting locations are attached to theimage data items accumulated in the database 31, distributioninformation shown as FIG. 7 is generated by the distribution-generatingunit 122 of the search-result-analyzer section 102.

FIG. 7 shows an example of two-dimensional distribution information, inwhich shooting dates and shooting locations of images obtained as searchresults are plotted. In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis represents shootingdates, and the vertical axis represents values showing locations. Theshooting locations are digitized, for example, as information itemsshowing distances from a reference location to the shooting locations.In FIG. 7, squares shown in FIG. 7 represent metadata items of imagesoutput as search results.

When distribution information such as the distribution information shownin FIG. 7 is generated, the distribution-generating unit 122 re-analyzesthe distribution information that has been obtained, for example, usingmultivariate analysis, such as principal component analysis (PCA), togenerate one-dimensional distribution information. Then, theone-dimensional distribution information is supplied to theclassification-data-generating section 103.

Because one dimensional distribution information can be generated fromtwo-dimensional distribution information, the embodiment of the presentinvention can be applied to a case in which search results that aplurality of information items are attached to are to be displayed.

As a screen displayed on the display 34 to show search results, forexample, a screen shown in FIG. 8 can be used instead of the screen usedin the example described above with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of another example of the display screen onwhich search results are displayed. In FIG. 8, no regions correspondingto the regions 221 to 224 shown in FIG. 4 are provided on a screen 311.Additionally, in FIG. 4, the images are displayed so as to be arrangedin the vertical direction of FIG. 4. In contrast, in the example shownin FIG. 8, the positions of images 321 to 352 are not aligned in thehorizontal direction of FIG. 8. In a case shown in FIG. 8, by ascrolling operation, each of the images 321 to 352 can be scrolled anddisplayed in the vertical direction, which is indicated by an arrow 371,of FIG. 8.

In FIG. 8, for example, the positions of the images 321 to 352 in thehorizontal direction of FIG. 8 are defined in correspondence with theshooting dates of the images. For example, when display data used todisplay the screen 311 is generated, metadata items (for example,shooting dates) attached in advance to images obtained as search resultsare extracted, and distribution information concerning the metadataitems is generated. Then, on the basis of the distribution information,the metadata items are classified. The shooting dates of the images 321to 324 are classified into a first group. The shooting dates of theimages 331 to 333 are classified into a second group. The shooting datesof the images 341 to 343 are classified into a third group. The shootingdates of the images 351 to 352 are classified into a fourth group.

In a display method that has been described above with reference to FIG.4, the images 321 to 324 are displayed in the region 221. The images 331to 333 are displayed in the region 222. The images 341 to 343 aredisplayed in the region 223. The images 351 to 352 are displayed in theregion 224. However, in the example shown in FIG. 8, the positions ofthe images 321 to 352 in the horizontal direction of FIG. 8 are definedin accordance with the shooting dates of the images 321 to 352.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged illustration of a peripheral portion of the images351 and 352 shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 9, a position of a linesegment L21 passing through the center of the image 351, which is a linesegment extending in the vertical direction of FIG. 9 (of the screen),in the horizontal direction, and a position of a line segment L22passing through the center of the image 352, which is a line segmentextending in the vertical direction, in the horizontal direction aredefined in correspondence with shooting dates. In an example shown inFIG. 9, the position of the line segment L21 in the horizontal directioncorresponds to a shooting date “2007/4/1”, and the position of the linesegment L22 in the horizontal direction corresponds to a shooting date“2007/4/5”. In other words, the image 351 is an image that was shot onApr. 1, 2007 A.D., and the image 352 is an image that was shot on Apr.5, 2007 A.D.

The position in the vertical direction at which each image is displayedcan be appropriately set such that the image is displayed at a positionat which is easy for the user to see the image. For example, theposition in the vertical direction at which each image is displayed canbe calculated and set on the basis of distances in the horizontaldirection between peripheral images, which are adjacent to the image,and the image using predetermined criteria.

By displaying images in this manner, the user can intuitively recognizehow close the shooting dates of images are to one another. Accordingly,the user can more quickly find a target image. For example, in theexample shown in FIG. 9, a distance d21 between the line segments L21and L22 represents a period from a date on which the image 351 was shotto a data on which the image 352 was shot. With such an arrangement ofthe images, the user can intuitively recognize how close the shootingdates of images are to each other.

Additionally, also in the case of FIG. 8, for example, a GUI similar toa GUI using the frame 281 shown in FIG. 4 or the like is displayed, andby specifying a region using the GUI, only images in the region may bedisplayed. For example, when a region in which the images 343, 351, and352 are disposed is specified, a manner in which the images aredisplayed may be changed so that the shooting date of the image 343 canbe positioned at the left end on the horizontal axis of the screen, andso that the shooting date of the image 352 can be positioned at theright end on the horizontal axis of the screen. In other words, the usercan specify a region so that only images that were shot on shootingdates included in a predetermined period can be displayed.

An example has been described above, in which shooting dates of imagesare used as metadata items. Furthermore, for example, other informationitems such as information items concerning persons that are identifiedas objects by face-image identification or the like can be used asmetadata items, and search results can also be displayed using otherinformation items as in the above-described case.

Additionally, evaluation values that are calculated by the searchprocessor 32 can be used as metadata items, and search results can bedisplayed using the evaluation values as in the above-described case.

An example has been described above, in which image data items aresearched by the search system 10 to obtain search results and in whichthe search results are displayed. Furthermore, the embodiment of thepresent invention can also be applied to a case in which otherinformation items are searched to obtain search results and in which thesearch results are displayed.

In addition, an example has been described above, in which searchresults that are searched by the search system 10 are displayed.Furthermore, the embodiment of the present invention can also be appliedto a case in which no search operation is performed.

For example, a display system 20 shown in FIG. 10 is different from thesearch system 10 shown in FIG. 1 in that the display system 20 does notinclude the search processor 32. The configuration of the display system20 shown in FIG. 10 is the same as that of the search system 10 shown inFIG. 1 except for the search processor 32. Referring to FIG. 10, forexample, when the controller 33 is designed so as to obtain image dataitems directly from the database 31 without searching and to perform theprocesses described above with reference to FIG. 6, images can bedisplayed in the display methods described above with reference to FIGS.4 and 8.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention can also beapplied to the display system 20 in which no search operation isperformed, and in which the accumulated data items are displayed.

The above-described series of the processes can be performed byhardware, and can also be performed by software. When theabove-described series of the processes is performed by software, aprogram configured as the software is installed via a network or from arecording medium into a computer built in dedicated hardware, or into ageneral-purpose personal computer 700 into which various types ofprograms are installed so that various types of functions can beperformed, for example, and which is shown in FIG. 11.

Referring to FIG. 11, a central processing unit (CPU) 701 performsvarious types of processes in accordance with a program stored in aread-only memory (ROM) 702, or a program loaded from a storage unit 708into a random-access memory (RAM) 703. In the RAM 703, for example, datathat is necessary in a case in which the CPU 701 performs the varioustypes of processes is appropriately stored.

The CPU 701, the ROM 702, and the RAM 703 are connected to one anothervia a bus 704. To the bus 704, an input/output interface 705 is alsoconnected.

To the input/output interface 705, an input unit 706 including akeyboard and a mouse, an output unit 707 including a display such as acathode ray tube (CRT) display or a liquid crystal display (LCD) and aspeaker, the storage unit 708 including a hard disk, and a communicationunit 709 including a network interface card, such as a local areanetwork (LAN) card, are connected. The communication unit 709 performs acommunication process via a network including the Internet.

To the input/output interface 705, a drive 710 is connected ifnecessary. A removable medium 711, such as a magnetic disk, an opticaldisk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, isappropriately mounted to the drive 710. A computer program that is readfrom the removable medium 711 is installed into the storage unit 708 ifnecessary.

When the above-described series of the processes is performed bysoftware, a program configured as the software is installed via anetwork such as the Internet, or from a recording medium configuredusing the removable medium 711 or the like.

Not only the recording medium be a recording medium configured using theremovable medium 711 which is shown in FIG. 11, which is distributedseparately from a body of an apparatus in order to distribute a programto a user, and in which the program is recorded. Examples of theremovable medium 711 include a magnetic disk (such as a floppy disk), anoptical disk (such as compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM) or adigital versatile disk (DVD)), a magneto-optical disk (such as amini-disk (MD)™), and a semiconductor memory. The recording medium mayalso be a recording medium configured using the ROM 702 or a hard diskincluded in the storage unit 708. The ROM 702 or the hard disk is builtin a body of an apparatus in advance, and, in the ROM 702 or the harddisk, a program that is distributed to a user is recorded.

The steps in which the above-described series of processes is performedin the embodiment of the present invention include processes that aresequentially performed in an order in which the processes are described.The steps also include processes that are performed in parallel or areindividually performed, which are not necessarily sequentiallyperformed.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A display apparatus for displaying accumulated data items on adisplay unit, the display apparatus comprising: obtaining means forobtaining a plurality of data items that are accumulated; classifyingmeans for classifying the plurality of data items that are obtained bythe obtaining means into N groups on the basis of predeterminedcriteria; display-control means for controlling an indication on thedisplay unit such that the plurality of data items that are classifiedby the classifying means are displayed in N display regionscorresponding to the N groups; and accepting means for accepting aspecification of one display region from among the N display regions,wherein, when the accepting means accepts a specification of one displayregion from among the N display regions, the classifying meansclassifies a plurality of data items displayed in the specified displayregion into a further N groups, and the display-control means controlsan indication on the display unit such that the plurality of data itemsthat are further classified by the classifying means are newly displayedin the N display regions corresponding to the N groups.
 2. The displayapparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in each of the N displayregions, a predetermined number of data items from among data items thatare classified into a group corresponding to the display region aredisplayed.
 3. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theclassifying means generates information showing a distribution of theplurality of data items on the basis of additional data items that areattached in advance to the plurality of data items obtained by theobtaining means, and calculates distances between the plurality of dataitems in the distribution to classify the plurality of data items intothe N groups.
 4. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theclassifying means generates information showing a distribution of theplurality of data items on the basis of evaluation values on theplurality of data items, the evaluation values being calculated byanother apparatus, and calculates distances between the plurality ofdata items in the distribution to classify the plurality of data itemsinto the N groups.
 5. The display apparatus according to claim 1,wherein, on a screen of the display unit on which the indication iscontrolled by the display-control means, each of the N display regionshas a predetermined size and is provided at a predetermined position. 6.The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein on a screen on whichthe indication is controlled by the display-control means, the N displayregions are set in correspondence with the plurality of data items.
 7. Adisplay method for a display apparatus that displays accumulated dataitems on a display unit, the display method comprising the steps of:obtaining a plurality of data items that are accumulated; classifyingthe plurality of data items that are obtained into N groups on the basisof predetermined criteria; controlling an indication on the display unitsuch that the plurality of data items that are classified are displayedin N display regions corresponding to the N groups; classifying, in acase in which a specification of one display region from among the Ndisplay regions is accepted, a plurality of data items displayed in thespecified display region into a further N groups; and controlling anindication on the display unit such that the plurality of data itemsthat are further classified are newly displayed in the N display regionscorresponding to the N groups.
 8. A program for causing a computer toperform a process of displaying accumulated data items on a displayunit, the program causing the computer to function as: a displayapparatus for displaying accumulated data items on the display unit, thedisplay apparatus including obtaining means for obtaining a plurality ofdata items that are accumulated, classifying means for classifying theplurality of data items that are obtained by the obtaining means into Ngroups on the basis of predetermined criteria, display-control means forcontrolling an indication on the display unit such that the plurality ofdata items that are classified by the classifying means are displayed inN display regions corresponding to the N groups, and accepting means foraccepting a specification of one display region from among the N displayregions, wherein, when the accepting means accepts a specification ofone display region from among the N display regions, the classifyingmeans classifies a plurality of data items displayed in the specifieddisplay region into a further N groups, and the display-control meanscontrols an indication on the display unit such that the plurality ofdata items that are further classified by the classifying means arenewly displayed in the N display regions corresponding to the N groups.9. A recording medium in which the program according to claim 8 isrecorded.
 10. A display apparatus for displaying accumulated data itemson a display unit, the display apparatus comprising: an obtaining unitthat obtains a plurality of data items that are accumulated; aclassifying unit that classifies the plurality of data items that areobtained by the obtaining unit into N groups on the basis ofpredetermined criteria; a display-control unit that controls anindication on the display unit such that the plurality of data itemsthat are classified by the classifying unit are displayed in N displayregions corresponding to the N groups; and an accepting unit thataccepts a specification of one display region from among the N displayregions, wherein, when the accepting unit accepts a specification of onedisplay region from among the N display regions, the classifying unitclassifies a plurality of data items displayed in the specified displayregion into a further N groups, and the display-control unit controls anindication on the display unit such that the plurality of data itemsthat are further classified by the classifying unit are newly displayedin the N display regions corresponding to the N groups.